sound recordings

Magnetic tape replay equipment is fading out. Today’s knowledge of the linguistic and cultural diversity of humanity is widely based on magnetic tape recordings produced over the past 60 years. Magnetic audio and video tape formats are now obsolete. Spare parts supply and service is fading, replay equipment in operable condition is disappearing rapidly, and routine transfer of magnetic tape documents is estimated to end around 2025. The only way to preserve these sounds and images in the long term, and to keep them accessible for future generations, is their digitisation and transfer to safe digital repositories.

The Norwegian Institute of Recorded Sound (NIRS) follows up on the great feedback we got over the last few years for our musical Advent Calendar with more old, old… ooold recordings! After all, it has now become a tradition!

The Spirituals Database provides searchable information about Negro Spirituals set for the solo voice and recorded on over 3,300 tracks from more than 320 sound recordings. Launched in March, 2015, the database is a resource for discovering and researching the Spiritual’s potential role in developing a singer’s repertoire.